Chapter Nine
Queen Zelda
"Rael!" Hissed Daran as they walked quickly through the outer courts of the fortress, back out in the blazing heat of the day, "What did you say in there? Where are we going?" The soldier named Barson led Ralis, Mara, Tabett, Elane, Daran and himself quickly through the grounds. The back gateway led sharply out to a path that circled towards the main gate of the palace.
"Ralis showed that sword of his to the General," said Rael angrily, eyes fixed on his brother's back, "and then Dragan went mad. I don't know why. He ordered that we be taken to the Queen."
"The Queen!" Daran exclaimed fearfully, "Why under the light?"
Rael shook his head as though to say 'I don't know'. The shining white palace drew closer before them. The high, grand, shining white walls reflected the brilliant sunlight, and the many towers and spires glittered pearl and silver in the light. A moat of crystal clear water ringed the palace, bordered by beautifully kept gardens and flowery glades. Banners of every colour and hue hung from the walls, and as many flags flew atop the towers; sigils and emblems of lords and ladies and cities from across Hyrule. Atop the highest tower, high above the main great gateway, the banner of the Royal Family blazed majestically in the bright sun, greatest of all; the red eagle bearing three golden triangles above its outstretched wings.
The jewel of Hylia, crown of Hyrule, centrepiece of the entire kingdom; his legs became like jelly beneath him. Barson led the six of them up the snaking path to the great gates, over the drawbridge, and under the archway into the ancient home of the rulers of the kingdom. Barson stopped briefly to show a letter to the gate guards, and then led them quickly through a grand hallway. "Rael, I have a bad feeling about all of this," said Daran, trembling even more than himself.
"Just stay calm," said Rael, putting a reassuring grip on his friend's shoulder.
The palace was filled with more soldiers than Rael had ever seen in one place. There had to be more lining these walls and corridors than the entire home guard of Taran Kaey. How much protection did one person require? Colonnades of marble and pearl supported the high overarching ceiling, and the walls were draped with all the same banners as could be seen outside. There were many doors leading away to different parts of the palace, staircases, corridors¸ but none seemed quite so important as where they were now headed. At the far end of the hall, where the marble floor gave way to great stone steps so shiny that they could be glass, a great door stood closed atop a high raised platform.
Barson stopped again and conversed with a guard at the door. He nodded quickly, and then led on away from the door, up the ascending steps onto the upper level of the castle. Shortly, they were once again before a grand looking door, if not quite so much a centrepiece. Barson knocked on the door, loudly, and slowly it was opened from within. He led them through.
This room was quite easily the most richly decorated room Rael had ever had the honour of being inside. The soldiers that stood proudly at attention within were dressed in armour that shone gold. Plumes of red and purple decorated their long ornamental helmets. The walls and ceiling were worked with gold and intricate silver. The tall windows that overlooked the room from the far end were bordered with ivory and emeralds. A multitude of banners of red, green, gold and blue hung on the walls, suspended by ropes that appeared to be made of spun gold.
Shallow stone steps inclined up to a raised dais, where rested a desk of the finest redwood, inlaid with ivory. A high backed chair of gold with red velvet cushioning, sat behind the desk.
Barson led the six of them through the room, which appeared to be something reminiscent of an on office rather than a throne room – which Rael presumed was the room behind the huge doors lower in the palace – and kneeled just before the steps. In imitation, the six Taraners kneeled also. One knee to the ground, right fist on the stone floor, and heads bowed deeply.
Rael kept his head up slightly, watching the silent figure at the far side of the room. A tall, slender figure stood by the high windows, gazing down upon Hylia. A white robe hung from her shoulders, fastened by a gold and lace strapping. Hair of spun gold hung purposefully behind her, gathered at the top from a jade and silver hair fastening. Rael could hear the faint soft sound of music, and after some time of kneeling there in silence he realised it was coming from the lady. A faint whisper of a song left her lips, as she looked out through the windows. "…shadow of night shall take us soon…softly creeping as dusk's fair blade…dark by sun and light by moon…dawn's lost embrace to the ancient shade…" there was sadness in her voice, and it stirred sadness in Rael's own heart. "… shall burn across our sacred land…and war shall rage in heavens halls…" she sighed, and he song was almost inaudible now, "…mountain, forest, sea, and sand…where shall we be when twilight falls…" She turned to face them, her pale blue eyes set in her pale beautiful face like sapphires in frost, "Where shall we be when twilight falls?"
"Your majesty," spoke Barson into the floor, "the Lord Dragan has commanded that these six Taraners be brought before you. His reason was nothing but this blade." He kept his head bowed, but held the black scabbard in outstretched arms, the hilt caught the sunlight and shone like gold.
Rael knelt, but did not put his head right down. But watched as the beautiful lady walked slowly across the hall, to look closely at the sword Barson held. "Twilight falls so soon?" She said, more to herself than anyone else, "it is as I foresaw then." A faint sigh left her lips, then she nodded slowly and said, "Thank you Barson, you may leave."
"As you wish, your majesty."
The Queen held the sword in her hands loosely, and slowly turned away, putting her back to them again. She went to stand by the window for a few moments. There was a strange air in the room, as though they seven were the only ones present. The ten or so armed soldiers lining the walls seemed to be statues, not even there.
The Queen turned, fixing each of them in turn with that cool serene gaze. Rael knew for a fact that she was fifty years of age, or near enough that mark, but looking at her he barely perceived that as possible. In truth, her face seemed almost ageless, as though time held no effect upon her. Her cheeks and brow were smooth, her chin was of pointed and smooth, her lips were narrow but red and full, and her eyes were blue and serene. She stood tall and slim. And though Rael felt frightened that he should not have impure thoughts about his queen, her saw her figure was perfect to every curve.
"Rise," she said simply, and they were compelled to obey, "stand tall." Her cool tone and graceful presence was even more authoritative and commanding than General Dragan's had been. Rael had known to obey Dragan because of fear of the consequence; but when the Queen spoke, he knew he would do whatever he possibly could to obey her, because he wanted to please. That was true power of presence he decided. Or maybe it was the difference between female and male authority. He could not decide, having met few women with power before, and no woman with even a hundredth of the power that the Queen commanded. No woman with even a hundredth of her beauty either…surely she could not be fifty. She looked thirty and not a day older.
"Which of you," she said, unsheathing the long silver blade and holding it up to the sunlight, "brought this blade into the city?" Her gaze fell upon Rael and he felt himself quiver, her icy cool eyes appeared to be reading his every thought. Then she moved on, observing Daran, and then Elane.
For a moment there was silence, then almost at a hoarse whisper Ralis spoke, "Your Majesty," she turned to face him, her hair of spun gold shifting slowly on her shoulders as she moved, "It was I…"
The Queen walked across the room to Ralis, and pulling up his chin with her palm, looked at his face from all angles, before stepping back and examining his body. "You are tall of body, and strong of arm. Handsome enough to be the one, but… You are nothing like the father." She turned her back on him, walked back up the shallow steps, and looked out of the window again, considering. "However, that which is spoken in prophecy does not require the sword to re-enter the city in the hands of the one, as I had anticipated. The fall of twilight will bring many changes that cannot be predicted or foreseen. I should have been more careful in my assumptions."
Rael had no idea what she as talking about, and judging by the look on his brother's face, neither did he. But there was an unusual look in Ralis' eyes, as though a slight shade of regret, intricate and untraceable.
The Queen looked at the sword curiously, running a finger along its flat edge. In a quick and sudden motion, in a whirlwind of white and purple robes and swirling golden hair, the Queen had spun across the room with the sword, and thrust out her arms, holding the razor edge steadily beneath Ralis' chin. One hand on the hilt, and one hand still on the top of the blade, she looked over Ralis once again. "Where did you get this!" she demanded, with fiery fury in her previously calm features, "where is he?"
Ralis looked ready to collapse, but somehow kept his legs straight enough to support his body. His voice quivered as she pressed the sword closer, "I got it…through the southern shipping routes…I…I'm a shipping merchant…"
"Liar!" She shouted, eyes widening in anger. A violent wind rushed through the windows, blowing her silk robes all around her, and spreading her hair out like a demonic figure. All the hanging banners clapped furiously against the walls as the wind rushed through. Books fell from shelves, the fine velvet carpets blew raggedly across the room and were pinned to the far wall. Rael felt so icy cold, as the gale blew all his clothing around.
A second later, and everything was still again, and though the effects of the wind were clear on the room, and the shivering Taraners, the Queen looked very much as she had done moments before. Calm, relaxed and beautiful as the morning star. "Please…" said Ralis, "I speak the truth…"
"You lie poorly, Taraner. What is your name?"
"Ralis…your majesty. Ralis al'Resh…"
The Queen's eyes narrowed, looking over him curiously. "That name…no…no something is not right, here." She stood tall again, peering over the Taraners with an air of confusion. "Brash never said that he…" She picked up the scabbard from her desk and sheathed the sword within it quickly.
"I would not lie…my Queen…"
The Queen shot him a look of pure contempt and disgust, "You will speak the truth eventually, Ralis al'Resh. I promise you." Ralis' fearful dark eyes were shallow with terror, and they flickered between the Queen and the blade laying on the table.
She smoothed down the long billowing sleeves of her gown and brushed back her hair with her hands.. At some angles, or from the way she held herself, there were signs of her real age. A slightly bent step perhaps, or a slower pace sometimes. But nothing to truly suggest it, and the speed with which she had moved, holding that sword… "A formal introduction is needed, I believe. I am Queen Zelda Nohansen Hyrule, Queen of Hylia, and Queen of all Hyrule from the southern sea to the northern waste, from the western desert to the far eastern provinces beyond the mountains." She had a motherly smile on her face, and nodded to each of them in turn, asking their names.
"Tabett al'Tabar, your majesty," said Tabett bowing low.
"Elane el'Elaina, your majesty," said Elane, dropping into a curtsy as best she could.
"Mara el'Sara ta'Ralis, your Majesty." The Queen stopped, looking between her and Ralis, then smiled and moved onto the golden haired boy stood beside her.
"Daran al'Larban, your majesty," said Daran, imitating Tabett's bow.
And finally, "Rael al'Resh, your majesty." Rael bowed deeply, and as he came back up he met the Queen's cold gaze.
She inclined her head slightly, eye darting between the two brothers momentarily, and then musing to herself, "Another son of 'Resh'." She took a few steps back and leaned up against her desk casually, folding her arms in front of her. "Tell me more of your father, young Rael. I presume that you are brothers yes, and not of two different men of the same name?" Rael shook his head, " No? Good. I thought not, though… you two look most dissimilar. Of the same mother, are you?" Rael nodded slowly, "Yes of course, of course. You appear different, but you do both have a certain…air about you. It reminds me of…" she paused, and then smiled again. "Never mind. Tell me then, who was your father's father? Your grandfather, I mean."
Rael was confused as to why he was now under the question and not Ralis, but he answered, "His name was Shael."
"And his father? Your great grandfather?"
"My greatfather," said Rael, doing his best to recall, "was called Shaedal."
"And your great great grandfather?" She said, still cool and calm as ever.
Rael looked at her blankly, and shook his head, "I do not know, your majesty."
"Dalis, your majesty." said Ralis, helpfully. He shrank back when Queen Zelda turned to face him. "With your permission, my Queen, I apologise for my intrusion. I was named for Dalis, you see. Or, for part of his name at least. Ael is the traditional name in our family. Alis is older, and less common." The Queen nodded slowly, as though she already knew what she was being told.
The other four in the room looked relieved that they were not being interrogated, but nervous in case the Queen suddenly turned her attention on them. "Ralis and Rael ael'Resh al'Shael al'Shaedal al'Dalis." The two young men nodded, and the Queen smiled approvingly. "You are of a strong house, with names like that. Yes, very strong indeed." More brightly now, but more focussed, she asked, "What did your father do for his work?"
Rael felt uncomfortable that she said 'did' rather than 'does', but did not dare speak out. "He was a carpenter, your majesty," replied Ralis, now more confident.
"Was he ever a soldier?" She said, speaking the words that had become very familiar to Rael these last few days.
"Yes, your majesty," said Ralis, "that is what we understand to be true."
The Queen nodded, sighed, and looked at the sword again. She shook her head slowly, and brushing back her golden hair again, stood up and made her way across the room. "Ralis, I will not force the truth from you. I think it would be best if you came to me of your own accord. Only then can I be sure of a fully truthful account of how you acquired that blade."
Ralis looked ready to collapse again, "Begging your pardon, majesty. Why is the blade so important?"
The Queen smiled sweetly, with a look of poison in her eyes, "It is a good twenty years at least since I last saw this sword. It is… it is everything. Its presence is supposed to signal the coming of the War of Twilight, and the great war of our time. But it has done that anyway now, despite the absence of the one who is supposed to wield it."
"Who is that?" said Ralis, without a 'your majesty', seeming to lose all sense of place.
The Queen looked ready to answer, but then chose to hold her tongue. "It doesn't matter," she said, picking up the blade and fastening it to a loop on her belt, "I'm sure he will make his presence known soon enough." She stood up tall and spoke over their heads to one of the soldiers on guard, "Sergeant Tren, will you see that these good people are given suitable accommodation. See to it that they receive the best rooms we have available." She smiled warmly, "They are my guests of honour."
"Yes, your majesty," said the nearest guard, turning to face her at attention, "as you wish, your majesty."
Zelda went on almost to herself, nearly at a whisper. "Marshal al'Arantos will be as keen to see this blade also. I shall have him look into this for me. My own gifts of intuition have become blurred of late, and though I understand why, it does not make it any easier to accept. Al'Arantos will understand this better, I hope…" She took one last look at Ralis, "When you are ready to tell me the truth, Master Ralis, I will hear from you."
She walked across the room towards the windows, and ran her hand along the far left wall. There was a small click, and then she pulled a small segment of the stone wall back gently like a door; a secret passageway, Rael decided. She disappeared through it, and the door slid shut behind her.
"With me!" Said Sergeant Tren loudly, "the Queen wants you as her personal guests, so you will have the very best free quarters in the palace. Please, follow me." There was no point in protesting, so they all filed out after him, back into the cool of the corridors. There was plenty for them to talk about now, if ever they got a chance to sit and relax.